Voice-silencer.



G. H. BAIRD.

VOICE SILENCER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25.1916.

1,227,363. Patented May 22,1917.

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GEORGE H. BAIRD, OF WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.

VOICE-SILENCER.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed July 25, 1916. Serial No. 111,326.

To all whom it may concern Be'it known that I, Gnomes ll. Bruno, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Voice-Silencers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention aims to provide a voice silencer for telephones, in the nature of an attachment to the mouth piece thereof, male ing it possible to tall: privately in the presence of others in the same room.

The invention embodies among other features a plurality of perforated diaphragms which functionates as a vibrator, for the purpose of allowing a person using the phone to tall: in a low tone, and still be heard quite distinctly at the other end of the line.

In carrying out the invention I provide a device capable of being easily attached to the mouth piece of a telephone, or removed therefrom when desired, the device being constructed to permit the component parts to be taken apart to be cleaned as a preventive against contagious diseases.

Another object of importance resides in the provision of a tube to hold a disinfectant in close proximity to the mouth of the person using the telephone.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure 1 is an elevation showing the device applied to a telephone,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the device and mouth piece of the telephone,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation,

Fig. l is a rear elevation of one of the mountings for the springs, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the securing means for the tying element.

The device forming the subject matter. of my invention can be made from any suit able material, such as for instance metal, gutta-percha or vulcanite, and preferably embodies a hollow body which is slightly tapered and provided at its lower edge with an inwardly directed circumferential flange 11 that rests upon the inner surface of the mouth piece A adjacent the forward edge thereof. The attachment in place forms a continuation of the mouth piece A, while the outer or larger end of the hollow body 10 is provided with a top piece 12 which has a depending flange engaging the outer surface of the body 10 and which is secured thereto by means of set screws 13. The top piece 12 is partly counter-sunk, or in other words shaped to conform to the curvature of the face so as to fit tightly thereagainst wholly inclosing the month while using the telephone, it of course being understood that the top piece 12 is provided with an enlarged central opening 14.

Suitably supported upon the under side of the top piece 12 in close proximity to the edge of the opening 14 is a tube 15 adapted to contain a disinfectant, of a nature efficient for its purpose in killing germs of all characters, but mild in odor so that the party using the silencer will not experience a choking feeling after talking through the device.

Positioned within the body 10 is a means adapted to be vibrated by sound waves introduced into the body, for the purpose of intensifying such waves, thus permitting a person using the device to talk in a low tone and still be heard distinctly at the other end of the line. The means for accomplishing this object may be varied, but as shown in this specific instance consists of a plurality of wafer perforated diaphragms wholly positioned within the body 10 in spaced relation. The diaphragms are yieldably supported for vibratory movement under the influence of the sound waves, and as illustrated the body 10 is preferably provided with slots 16 disposed at diametrically opposite points, and which slots are covered or closed from the exterior side of the body member by means of elongated casings 16 which are secured to the body 10 in any suitable manner, and are preferably of U-shaped formation in cross section. Within each casing 17 is arranged a pair of spaced pins 18 about which fine hair wire springs 19 are coiled, with one convolution of each spring extended through the adj acent slot 16 in the body member, and secured to the respective diaphragms 21 to yieldably support the latter for vibratory movement under action of the sound waves introduced into the silencer, whereby the sound waves are intensified thus allowing a person to speak through the silencer in a 10W tone with the sound waves having the proper effect upon the transmitter of the telephone so that the party speaking can be heard distinctly at the other end of the line. Thelower extremity of each casing 17 terminates to provide a. loop or ye 22 disposed exteriorly of the mouth piece A in contacting engagement therewith, and passed through these loops or eyes is a flexible securing element, preferably wire indicated at 23, which can be drawn taut about the mouth piece A and have its ends smitably connected together as at El with a view of holding the attacl'nnent in proper position upon said mouth piece.

Manifestly the component parts of the attachment can be readily separated and thoroughly cleaned, which is an important consideration as a preventative against contagious diseases, and the parts quickly assembled, the attachment being very susceptible for use with any standard telephone mouth piece.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, and

while I have shown and described what I consider the preferred embodiment of the invention I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to this exact construction and arrangement, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

l. A voice silencer for telephones embodying a hollow body adapted to be attached to the mouth piece thereof, a perforated top for said body, a plurality of perforated diaphragms arranged within the body to be vibrated by the sound waves to intensify such waves, and a disinfectant holding means po sitioned immediately beneath said top.

A voice silencer for telephones embodying a hollow body adapted to be attached to the mouth piece of the telephone, and a plurality of perforated diaphragms arranged within the body in spaced relation, and means yieldably supporting the respective diaphragms for vibratory movement to intensify the sound. waves passing therethrough.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE H. BAIRD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

